04 Feb A SOUPer Way to Warm Up And Do Your Body Good
Sometimes there’s nothing that hits the spot on a cold wintry day quite like a nice bowl of warm soup. Not just any soup will suffice– you can’t just pop open a can of Progresso or warm up a bag of Ramen noodles and get the same feeling as you do slurping down a bowl of homemade soup. That’s like comparing a stick of gum to a chocolate souffle. There’s no comparison!
Did you know that there’s actually a day set aside to celebrate homemade soup? Yep! National Homemade Soup Day is TODAY! And you know how jolly it makes us talking about healthy foods…
A SOUPer Food that Measures Up
A hearty bowl of soup has more benefits than just warming your body up. Soups are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients that will do your body good. They will preserve the nutritional value better than, say, a can of Campbell’s.
Eating a bowl of soup is also rich in taste, can help hydrate your body with its high source of fluids, is full of healthy fibers, and will leave you feeling satiated. You know that feeling of satisfaction you get after devouring a bowl of soup? That’s because the warmth helps you feel full more quickly than eating something cold.
Because of the warm temperature of soup, you will also likely eat it slower than most other foods. This is beneficial because studies show that it takes time for your stomach to communicate with your brain that your belly is full. Studies show that eating slowly not only improves digestion, but can even help you shed some unwanted pounds as well.
In addition, scientific research shows that some soups (like chicken soup) have benefits in them that can actually help relieve symptoms of the common cold. Scientists believe that a bowl of a soup can help reduce inflammation of the lungs. Many believe that chicken soup decreases the activity of white blood cells that can cause the inflammation.
A “Bone”-afied Way to Amp Up Your Soup
And if you’re really looking to get a nutritious meal, try using bone broth for your soup base. It’s easier to make than you might think– Rather than discarding your bones after a meal, save them! Throw them into a stockpot with some water, apple cider vinegar, veggie scraps, and some seasonings, and leave alone for a couple of hours. Easy peasy, lemon-squeezy!
Bone broth soup has numerous health benefits including:
- Has a high source nutrients
- Can help protect the joints (and may help combat osteoarthritis)
- Can reduce inflammation and improve the gut
- Can enhance your sleep quality
The benefits just never seem to dim when it comes to soup!
Making your own soup is also a surefire way to get your full servings of vegetables for the day. It’s versatile, convenient, easy to make (even for the worst cooks), and is affordable for all budgets.
Must-Try Savory Soups
There are literally thousands of soup recipes on the web. Celebrate National Homemade Soup Day by making one of these delicious varieties:
- Hearty Bone Broth Chicken Noodle Soup
- Dairy-Free Potato Soup
- Healthy Creamy Broccoli Soup
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Turkey Taco Soup
- Turkey Chili
- Chicken and Bacon Orzo Soup
- Tuscan Vegetable Soup
- Low Fat Clam Chowder
- Tomato Bisque Soup
- Gluten-Free Chicken and Wild Rice
Save yourself the hassle of what to fix for dinner tonight and enjoy a hearty bowl of soup instead. It pairs well with salad, crackers, breadsticks, and your favorite flavor of Jolly Llama Sorbet Pops. (Because we all know that it’s all about finding the right balance in life).
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